Rating: 
Summary: Escape To Another World
Review: This is an A+ book if one were to give it a grade. I bought this book as a gift to my mother, Virginia Marie Lucero-Armijo. She told me she thought it was "so good". I am glad I enjoyed a story that she relished over now that she is no longer with me. This novel is very well written. It was like an escape to another world, namely a small town in Japan called Gion. It taught be about the lives of a geisha. It's truly a love story that grasps you in the end (especially). The words as described in this book delve into the meaning of life as you will learn form a few of my favorite lines from the book: I felt as a bird must feel when it has flown across the ocean and comes upon a creature that knows its nest.------ Was life nothing more than a storm that constantly washed away what had been there only a moment before, and left behind something barren and unrecognizable?------ The swan who goes on living in its parents' tree will die; this is why those who are beautiful and talented bear the burden of finding their own way in the world.------ We lead our lives like water flowing down a hill, going more or less in one direction until we splash into something that forces us to find a new course.------ I did nothing more useful than to kneel there, feeling as much out of my element as a pigeon in a nest of falcons.------ Grief is a most peculiar thing; we're so helpless in the face of it. It's like a window that will simply open of its own accord. The room grows cold, and we can do nothing but shiver. But it opens a little less each time, and a little less; and one day we wonder what has become of it.----- I was dressed in the most formal costume an apprentice wears, a black, five-crested robe and an under robe of red, whcih is the color of new beginnings.
Rating: 
Summary: Why not five stars?
Review: That's a good question. I absolutely enjoyed this book, and was amazed at times with the writing and the detail of it. At other times, however, I felt the author sacrificed the story for style.Golden sets up a strong, consistent character in the heroine Sayuri, and in doing so, also gives us a clear vision of the city of Gion, and Japan in general, during the time period. Though I was impressed with the detail, clearly well researched to be as true as possible, I still had the nagging feeling that the view of Japan presented was based on many stereotypes. Just when I began to think I was getting a glimpse of a world few people had ever seen, I realized that it was exactly how I would've imagined it. Beautiful, but sometimes predictable. Another problem I had was the over abundance of metaphors that seemed typically "Asian". In the beginning these were well-placed and clever, but as the story went on I wished that Sayuri could see something just once without comparing it to leaves or butterflies. This is the manner in which I think the author failed the story--he didn't let Sayuri's voice change along with her character. The bottom line is that this was a wonderful subject to take on, and a great feat of the imagination to conjure this story. The writing of it is done less than perfectly, but admirably nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Remembering the Memoir
Review: Arthur Golden opens the door of the arcane world of the geishas of the 1930's and 1940's by creating a fictional character who writes a narrative of a famed geisha, Nita Sayuri, who assumes the name Mameha. Golden's opening this door allows the reader to vicariously join Mameha as she maneuvers a sinuous, convoluted path, progressing from being a slave to achieving a measure of independence. Following this path requires the geisha to master many skills and rituals. Examples of these rituals include donning 20 undergarments which lie beneath the kimono, presiding over the elaborate ceremony in which movements reflect belief systems, propitiating the multitude of Shinto gods and goddesses, and practicing the recondite Oki (a social and economic system as well as a physical structure in which the geishas live). Intricate protocol must be observed while negotiating the geisha's mizuage, the selling of her virginity. Another significant negotiating period occurs when she chooses a danna, her principal protector. For Mameha this choice is complicated by a familiar interloper-love. The author reveals Mameha's charm and intelligence through the metaphors she fashions-some charming and innocent, some saucy and witty. The book closes with an image Mameha constructs describing the choices she has made: "But now I know that our world is no more permanent than a wave rising on the ocean. Whatever our struggles and triumphs, however, we suffer them, all too soon they bleed into a wash, just like watery ink on paper."
Rating:
Summary: Excellent material.
Review: This book kept me up nights not wanting to put it down! I couldn't wait to see what was to happen! Golden writes well.. Excellent eye for detail and melodic writing style, especially for an American male living through the eyes of a Japanese Geisha. I liked that the heroine was not flawless, yet still you sympathized with her every dilemma. As another reviewer stated, a small weakness is in the speaking of her love interest, as Golden does not go into much detail as to why the sweet narrator loves him so. But, what seems to be hidden between the lines in her love for this stranger is that it was only he who gave her any kindness in such a harsh world. Sold into slavery when her parents were old and ill and unable to care for her, the main character has a terrible time trying to regain an indentity and place to call home. I suppose it is just when she has lost all hope that she has a brief encounter with this much older man, who instead of treating her like common peasant, sees her as a real person. For this reason, she pines for him. A little oedipal, maybe? But, this is not the main point of the story. We go through many years of her Geisha-hood and learn just what it is like to live solely to entertain and be perfect, while in the country as a whole one cannot find a place to call home. Excellent reading material. Kept my interests and then some.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book, saccharin aftertaste
Review: A commentator has said that this is a book that seems to stay open. It's absolutely true! I first had an interest in reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" because I have never read a novel about Japanese culture before, and I wanted to learn more about it from an author who had studied it in-depth. Once I started, I couldn't put the book down until I finished it a few days later. The story of Sayuri's life as a geisha in Japan around the time of WWII is engrossing, fascinating, and at times disturbing. "Memoirs" chronicles the life of Sayuri (as narrated by her to a fictional biographer), and how she goes from rags to riches, from riches to rags, and back again to riches. The plot is truly a page-turner; Golden also writes in lush detail about every aspect of Japan's geisha culture. However, Sayuri's development throughout her life, while believable, was disheartening. Here was a woman with so much potential--she's beautiful, intelligent, insightful--and she is trained to be manipulative, deceitful, and opportunistic. Not that this is surprising, based on the environments and upbringing she experiences. It could be argued that she made the most out of her circumstances; she took the hand she was dealt and then beat the dealer at his own game. Still, the reviews that compare Golden with authors like Austen and Dickens ring hollow when you examine the progress of a David Copperfield or an Elizabeth Bennett, who rise above their circumstances and whose individual characters are refined and brought to a higher level of integrity and morality--the opposite, in my opinion, of Sayuri's. As other readers have commented, the ending was a little to "neat" for me. I felt betrayed by the Chairman's reaction to Sayuri's last desparate act; indeed he seemed to condone the notion that the end justifies the means--go for what you want, and break the rules of ethics if necessary. Sayuri's lowest, most contemptible moment with the Minister is rewarded with a happy ending. Now I sound now like I'm not recommending this book--I do, heartily! But be forewarned, the ultimate message of this book is one that is very lonely and spiritually devoid: rely on yourself, because God and man alike will fail you.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully written and Wonderfully read!
Review: Elaina Erika Davis reads the novel with fluidity and style. She has a clear concept of how characters should sound and captures each scene, each word with definition. Besides a very well written novel, Davis adds the spark a great audio book needs! I've only had the CDs for 2 weeks and have listened to it 4 times already! You catch little things you missed out on each time!
Rating: 
Summary: sappiness overload
Review: i was in an airport waiting for my flight, and i bought this book in a giftshop to read on the plane. ugh. it was horrible! i almost threw it down the aisle at least ten times. it starts out ok, but once you realize that sayuri doesn't leave the mindset of a 12 year old in the whole book, it just becomes grating. bah!
Rating:
Summary: Misterious lives of Geishas...
Review: This is an absolutely wonderful book! I wasn't knowing much about geishas but this book tought me all about it. You can not drop it down when you start reading it. Nitta Sayuri's story will amaze you...
Rating:
Summary: A Quaint Story
Review: I picked up a copy of this book while I was in New Delhi, India for a study course in French. I know the two don't sound very complementary but thats how it happened. I was studying French during the mornings and had the greater part of the day free to myself and thought it would be great to sample Golden's (Premier?) work while free. Now, I won't be the average magazine hack and tell you what a good read it was and how fast paced it is ...Passe! This genre is certainly not what i read often but the idea of a little poetry, a fabled land and sultry seductress' did strike as a wonderful plot (pardon the pun)to while away a boring afternoon. The story is centered around a young girl and a later geisha, Sayuri. Taking its beginnings from a small town in Japan, the story is essentially a recount of Mme Sayuri's travails across a colourful canvas of Japanese Tea Houses, Suitors, Owners of Geisha Houses and other such equally quaint characters and locales. Though it does emit a tearful and at times "creeping" sadness on the fate of someone forced to start to eke out a livelihood very early in life, it has its moments of joy and happiness. Alas! they are few and rather far apart. Perhaps Golden attempts to mimic the Buddhist philosophy of the orient world showing with great candour, lyrical ability and poise, the thematic idea of suffering being a primal and defining characteristic of life and how, to minimise suffering, sacrifice and self-denial is the answer. A poignant story, the central theme revolves around how Sayuri driven by a combination of Ill-luck, poor Karma, Poverty and ensuing fate - which is a result of all her desires to be a woman respected in the world - is driven to be a Geisha. The story then takes on the character of a Jane Austen book detailing the need for young women to find good partners and finally along the central theme ends with Sayuri transported to a world different from her childhood - but respected and honoured. Is this the Nirvana that Golden tries to juxtapose? An interesting story, interestingly told...but caution, can become a little pedantic at times.
Rating:
Summary: 5 STARS!!
Review: A great novel. I couldn't put it down once I started with the first page.
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